| Jerzy Radziwiłł | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 31, 1556 Vilnius |
| Died | January 21, 1600 (aged 43) Rome |
| Spouse | None |
| Children | None |
| Parents | Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł Elżbieta Szydłowiecka |
Prince Jerzy Radziwiłł (Belarusian: Юры Радзівіл, Lithuanian: Jurgis Radvila; May 31, 1556 – January 21, 1600) was a Polish–Lithuanian nobleman (szlachcic) from the Radziwiłł family. He was a Catholic bishop and cardinal. Radziwiłł was also an Imperial Prince (Reichsfürst).
Raised a Calvinist, Radziwiłł was educated at the University of Leipzig. In 1572 he converted to Catholicism and became associated with the Jesuits.[1] He continued to study at Jesuit colleges in Poznań, Vilnius, and Rome. Even though he was ordained to priesthood and elevated to cardinal only in 1583, Radziwiłł began his duties as Bishop of Vilnius in 1579.[1] He established Vilnius Seminary and helped to obtain university status for the Jesuit Academy in Vilnius. In 1591, he became Bishop of Kraków.
Radziwiłł was also involved in political life. He served as deputy administrator (namiestnik) of Livonia (Inflanty) from 1582 until 1585. He participated in the election of king Sigismund III Vasa and became his trusted adviser. Radziwiłł supported the Third Statute of Lithuania (1588) and the Union of Brest (1596).[1]
He died in Rome and was buried in the Church of the Gesu.[1]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Walerian Protasewicz |
Bishop of Vilnius 1579–1591 |
Succeeded by Benedykt Woyna |
| Preceded by Piotr Myszkowski |
Bishop of Kraków 1591–1600 |
Succeeded by Bernard Maciejowski |